Antifriction bearing



Nov. 17, 1936. G. B. KURTZON I ANTIFRICTION BEARING Filed Aug. 8, 1935 fnl/277127" Patented Nov. 17, 1936 UNITED ySTATES ANTIFRICTION BEARING George B. Kurtzon, Chicago, Ill.

`Application August 8,

5 Claims.

'My present invention relates to the provision of `anti-friction bearings for supporting'sliding closures, such as the doors of showcases or cabinets. i

My `general object has been to provide `such an anti-friction bearing which will be more effective in maintaining the desired alignment of the unsupported portion lof the structure when the closures are being moved, or otherwise manipulated, and will more dependably prevent the rubbing or jamming' of the closures in their paths.

I am aware that opposing channels with balls between the edges thereof have been used for such a purpose, but =I prefer to support the load of the closure, or supported element, directly upon the ltop of the `ball where it will contact the ball at a greater radius from its center and secure the full purpose of such bearing with a diminished lateral movement of the ball.

I have enclosed the anti-friction elements within channels which, together with the supporting of the load upon the top of the balls, will prevent the element of side pressure or thrust when the closures are being moved from causing the ball track to ride the ball and thereby become out of line and tend to either rub or bind.

It will also be seen that supporting the load upon the top instead of more or less at the sides of the ball, permits me toI make a better distribution of the moving load.

I have attained the foregoing objects by means of the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a fragmental elevation of a closure or door carried by a structure embodying my invention, portions thereof being broken away for more clearly showing the relation of parts.

Fig. 2 is a fragmental cross-section through a pair of closures or doors assembled with a structure embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a fragmental side elevation of the balls and ball retaining means employed by me.

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a modification illustrating the formation of channel I2 and channel rail or track I4 formed of an integral strip of material and shownas I2a and Ma.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the respective views.

When the closures are for counter cases or display cabinets they usually consist of panels or glazed sash, either of which I have designated 1935, Serial No. 35,270

by the reference character 5. of the closures 5 are mounted shoes 6 consisting of channeled pieces into the channels of which the lower edges ofthe closures enter. The outer face of the connecting web of the .channel which constitutes a rail or track for supporting the load is preferably formed with `a slight concavity, at 1, to provide ball tracks in which the tops of the balls travel at a maximum distance from the axis about which the balls rotate.

The ball holders, or retaining means, consist of a strip of metal `8 in the longitudinal center of which are provided cut-outs 9 of the shape shown most clearly in Figs. l, 3 and 4. The strip of metal 8 is then rolled or bent in a preferably curved form ,along its longitudinal center where the cut-out portions ;9 are provided and after balls II) have been inserted in the cut-out portions, the Walls of the strip are bent more nearly together so as to be at a suitable distance in spaced parallel relation and the edges of the strip 8 are then preferably brought together in contact. The cut-outs are of a form which looked at in elevation is slightly cut back as it the strip so as to permit the surface of the ball to extend beyond the top and sides of the strip.

For holding the complete assembly I provide recedes from the top or longitudinal center of a channel, or pairs of channels, as these doors are very often installed in pairs and mounted to move in parallel relation. Such an assembly is best illustrated in Fig. 2 in which a strip of metal is bent to form a channel Il and is then bent to form a channel I2 adjacent thereto.

In the bottoms of these channels are mounted channel rails or tracks upon the edges of the upstanding walls I3 and I 4 of which the sides of the balls I0 rest.

The weight of the load tends to spread the walls I3 and I4, but this tendency is completely overcome by mounting the channel rails or tracks within the channels II and I2. There is no such tendency to spread the shoe mounted upon the bottom of the closure which provides the rail or track co-operating with the ball, but, nevertheless, the sides of the channels Il and I2 are preferably extended to the heights of the shoes so that any lateral thrust which may be imparted in the movement of the doors will not cause the doors to be pushed out of line and ride up on the balls. This is important as the movement of the doors may be more or less carelessly done, and if the doors are forced out of line, rubbing or jamming will result, which makes it more difficult to move the doors and on the bottoms of said longitudinal center, said strip being bent.

adjacent its longitudinal center to provide spaced parallel walls and balls disposed at said cut-outs between the walls of said strip so that the curvature of said balls extends their surfaces through said cut-outs and beyond the top and side walls of said strip in combination with a pair of opposing rails, one of said rails comprising a channel on the edges of which said balls ride and the other of said rails comprising a concaved track conformable with central circumferential paths on said balls.

2. In anti-friction bearings a shoe for the member to be supported having a concaved ball channel therein, a strip of metal having a plurality of spaced cut-outs in its longitudinal center, enlarging in area on both sides of saidl longitudinal center, said strip being bent adjacent its longitudinal center to provide spaced parallel walls and balls disposed at said cut-outs between the walls of said strip so that the curvature of said balls extends their surfaces through said cut-outs and beyond the top and side walls of said strip, and a channel, the edges of the side walls of which extend into engagement with the protruding sides of said balls.

3. In anti-friction bearings a shoe for the member to be supported, a strip of metal having a plurality of spaced cut-outs in its longitudinal center, enlarging in area on both sides of said longitudinal center, said strip being bent adjacent its longitudinal center to provide spaced parallel walls and balls disposed at said cut-outs between the walls of said strip so that the curvature of said balls extends their surfaces through said cut-outs and beyond the top and side walls of said strip, and a channel, the edges of the side walls of which extend into engagement with the protruding sides of said balls.

4. In anti-friction bearings a channel having rails intermediate the side walls thereof, balls co-operating with said intermediate rails and a shoe adapted to enter said channel and co-operate with the tops of said balls, and means for maintaining said balls in desired spaced relation.

5. In anti-friction bearing comprising balls, a ball cage for holding -and spacing said balls and rails, and a casing co-operating with said balls in service, said ball cage consisting of a perforated bent strip of metalrwhich presents concurrently the tops and sides of the balls for contact with adjacent surfaces, said rails comprising a channeled rail, the edges whereof engage the sides of the balls at some distance from the center of their 'paths of rotation, and a second rail which engages the balls at and adjacent the center of their paths of rotation, said casing member being extended opposite said balls and adapted to engage the sides thereof when the exigencies of use force said balls from their normal path. f

GEORGE B. KURTZON. 

